“I thought you were so capable, but it turns out you’re nothing special. You actually fell for such an obvious trap.”
“And your martial arts skills? Heh. You can’t even defeat two martial artists. You’re an embarrassment to the Qu family.”
Qu Tong emerged from the shadows and openly ridiculed Qu Jinshu.
“So my mother’s injury was fake?” Qu Jinshu tightened her grip on her sword and glared angrily at Qu Tong.
Seeing how angry she was, Qu Tong became even more smug. “Actually, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if it were true. Concubine Tang will eventually be abandoned by the Marquis’s household anyway. It’s just that my mother couldn’t be bothered to deal with her this time, so she made up a false report. I never expected you to fall for it.”
“Let me tell you something else. We made quite a commotion while carrying out this plan. Your mother has been keeping a close eye on us, so there’s no way she didn’t know what was happening. Yet she chose not to warn you, letting you foolishly walk right into our trap.”
“Even your own mother won’t help you! Hahaha…”
Qu Tong looked every bit like a petty man reveling in his own victory.
He then ordered, “Take her back to the residence. We’ll deal with her after Grandmother’s birthday banquet tomorrow.”
“Keep a close watch on her. Don’t let her escape again and ruin Grandmother’s mood.”
…
The Next Day
The Marquis’s residence was decorated with lanterns and colorful ornaments, creating a festive atmosphere. Guests had already begun arriving in droves, filling both the grounds and the surrounding areas.
In the past, people had looked down on the Marquis’s household and wanted nothing to do with it.
But ever since “Qu Zhao” had distinguished himself through his outstanding achievements, their residence had become one of the most prominent households in the capital.
The many guests who had come today were also hoping to establish good relations with them.
The banquet was held in the spacious courtyard of the Marquis’s residence, where colorful lanterns hung high overhead.
Old Madam Qu sat in the main seat, dressed in luxurious clothes and adorned with golden hairpins. She graciously accepted the guests’ gifts and well wishes.
During a short break in the conversation, she turned to Gao Qionghua.
“Have you found Qu Jinshu?”
“Rest assured, Grandmother. I’ve already captured her and locked her in the dark room in my courtyard. I’ve also assigned people to guard her closely. She won’t be able to cause any trouble.”
Qu Tong quickly stood up and patted his chest as he made his guarantee.
He even shot a provocative glance at his two half brothers standing not far away. They actually thought they could compete with him? What wishful thinking!
Old Madam Qu nodded in satisfaction before asking, “What about Tang Moying?”
“I’ve already forbidden her from leaving the residence. Mother, please rest assured,” Qu Sheng hurriedly assured her.
Old Madam Qu snorted. “You should have done that long ago. A woman with a questionable background and a scheming nature, should never have been allowed through the gates of the Marquis’s residence.”
“I don’t care how you choose to indulge her. But today’s guests are all distinguished people from the capital. I absolutely will not allow that mother and daughter to bring shame upon our household.”
“Mother is absolutely right,” Qu Sheng quickly replied with a nod.
“And as for the He family’s matter…”
At those words, Gao Qionghua hurried forward. “I’ve prepared the gifts according to your instructions. However, I’ve visited the General’s residence several times, but they refused to receive me, saying it was inconvenient. So I thought I’d take the opportunity to thank them again today.”
“Handle it however you see fit.”
Old Madam Qu didn’t seem particularly interested in the matter.
Gao Qionghua nodded slightly. “I’ll go check whether everything is in order in the kitchen.”
Watching Gao Qionghua walk away, Old Madam Qu said to Nanny Cai, who stood behind her, “Although Qionghua is to my liking, her temperament is still too soft. She’s not particularly suited to being the mistress of this household.”
Nanny Cai smiled. “Isn’t it you who manages everything in this household, Old Madam? What does it matter if Madam’s abilities are a little lacking?”
“Hmph…” Old Madam Qu snorted and said nothing more.
Meanwhile, after walking some distance away, the smile on Gao Qionghua’s face gradually faded.
Nanny Ying, who followed behind her, was filled with resentment. “The Old Madam claims to trust you, Madam, but all she ever assigns you are trivial chores. She still keeps most of the household authority firmly in her own hands. How can you even be considered the mistress of the Marquis’s residence? You didn’t see it, but every guest who came today was fawning over her.”
Gao Qionghua clenched her sleeves, her expression full of disgust. “Who can blame her? The Marquis only listens to his mother. And that Old Madam is a titled lady with an overbearing personality. She simply doesn’t trust us.”
“Madam…”
“There’s no need to rush. I’ve endured all these years, so I can certainly endure a few more days. What about the woman in Xieshui Residence? Today is such a good opportunity to show her face. Does she really not want to come out?”
Gao Qionghua glanced toward Xieshui Residence and asked coldly.
“Of course she wants to come out, but the Marquis has assigned people to watch her. You know how she is. She treats the Marquis’s orders as sacred and would never dare disobey him.” Nanny Ying covered her mouth and chuckled.
“Find a way to let her out. I can’t openly go against the Old Madam, so I’ll have to rely on that fool in Xieshui Residence. If she can anger the Old Madam to death or better yet poison her, then that would be perfect…”
By the end, Gao Qionghua’s eyes were filled with extreme resentment.
She acted filial and obedient toward the Old Madam on the surface, but in truth, she had accumulated deep resentment toward her.
Over the years, the Old Madam had been domineering and calculating, keeping almost the entire Marquis’s household under her control. Gao Qionghua had been forced to live under her thumb.
“What about Qu Jinshu?”
“Although she has a little cunning, she’s no real threat. There’s no need to concern ourselves with her.”
“Yes, Madam.”
…
“Father, Grandmother, I’m back.”
After finishing his duties, Qu Zhao hurried back without even changing his clothes.
“It’s good that you’re back! It’s good that you’re back!”
The moment Old Madam Qu saw him, her joy was genuine and heartfelt.
That year, after the Old Marquis passed away, the Marquis’s household had become an easy target for many people in the capital. Everyone wanted to take a bite out of it.
Fortunately, they had encountered an expert who had given them guidance. The expert had told them that the only way for the Marquis’s household to rise again was to place greater importance on its male descendants. As for the daughters born into the family, they were all the source of its misfortune.
If circumstances left them with no other choice, those daughters had to be eliminated to ensure the family’s prosperity.
It was also that year that Qu Zhao was born. The Emperor, who had long refused to discuss the inheritance of the Marquis’s title, finally relented and allowed Qu Sheng to inherit it.
Many of the Marquis’s household’s businesses that had been on the verge of collapse also gradually recovered.
Because of this, Old Madam Qu had come to believe the expert’s words without question. Zhao’er was the Qu family’s lucky star.
That was also the main reason she had favored this legitimate grandson so much over the years.
The expert had also said that during the first twenty years of his life, the legitimate grandson might appear somewhat dull and slow witted, unable to realize his potential. This was because his eldest sister or younger sister was suppressing him and stealing his good fortune.
Thinking about it carefully, that really did seem to be the case.
She had watched Ya’er grow up and personally raised her. It was only natural that the girl had turned out so outstanding.
But then Qu Jinshu suddenly appeared. She had been raised in the mountains before being brought back to the capital and placed in an outer residence.
No matter how outstanding Tang Moying was, there was no way she could have raised a daughter whose martial arts and intelligence surpassed those of the legitimate heirs of the capital’s noble families. It was simply absurd.
This only strengthened Old Madam Qu’s conviction that Qu Jinshu had stolen Zhao’er’s good fortune.
That was why she had allowed such an outrageous scheme as having Qu Jinshu impersonate Zhao’er.
The expert had said that once Zhao’er turned twenty, the situation would resolve itself.
There were still several months before Zhao’er turned twenty. Until then, everything Qu Jinshu did on his behalf was only rightfully his to begin with.
After all, everything she had gained should have belonged to Zhao’er!
“Brother Zhao!”
Suddenly, a delighted voice rang out.